ART SHOW AWARDS

I entered my art in the Hillsborough County Fair. 
 The Category was Professional Watercolor  and also a pencil piece .
It opens tomorrow and the judging was today.

I'm so pleased to say that I've won  2 First Place Awards,   one for Watercolor, Batter Up!  A first place for pencil/ graphite, 'We're Home' in the Category called Graphics, and a second place for  'Hummer on a Coneflower'.. also watercolor.

    Yes, it's very encouraging . BJ

Pencil Detail

A pencil piece I did some time ago. Done from a photo of my daughter Tina Marie.   BJ

The Lion~ Pencil

My pencil work has been long overdue, or at least I felt that way.
It has lost something in the photography and I've noticed that lately in the past few posts.. This piece measures 16"x20" with the mat ..
  BJ

'Eye of the Horse ~ aka~ Kellys Eye ~Pencil~

 This piece was finished this morning.   Well today I have art hanging in the library for December (forgot about that), the Christmas Exhibit thisThursday.

P.S.   This is my rendition of the photo of Kelly .. unknowingly she had just passed away.  Her owners saw the drawing on another site, and sadly told me what happened... Coincidence or mystical,  I don't know, but Kelly and I have a bond.. Just the way it  feels . 

p.s. I'd like to add that this drawing has won a ribbon at the Art Show in Plant City, and yes Kelly we did good! .

BJ

A Few Past Favorites !

 I'm posting some of my personal  favorites. Pencil work and watercolor. You have to scroll down to view the watercolors too.  Start of the new year will bring new work, but it might be a while. 

You can visit my Art Hearts Journey blog here. 

Sophistication / Pencil....again

Most of you know this is my own personal favorite pencil piece, and  my first serious large drawing..  Again, nothing more than pencils, paper and kneaded eraser and the desire to do it...I still like it as much now as the day I finished it... just my two cents worth.!

Barbra Joan

Thought it was time to post a recent photo so you all can see just who it is your writing to.  Sure a few years have passed, more than a few life experiences, but I'm still trying to travel that road gracefully..  lets just say as long as I don't fall and can't get up!!! 

Pencil Drawing

Picasso had his "Blue Period' . I have my Pencil Period. Last year I gave a little insight as to what I use and do for my drawings. A full range of Staedtler or Derwent drawing pencils, I use mostly Bristol (smooth) paper for good detail.. Some papers have a little more 'tooth' meaning rough,  I prefer  the smooth.
Once an intial drawing is done it's all about the light and dark.  If your using a color photo for reference it's still about the light
and dark. You have to completely block the color  from your brain, then it's a lot of shading and blending . Sometimes a tortillion or stump may be used for the blending and sometimes it's just my finger. An important part of pencil drawing , you must have dark to show the light. You can see in my drawings where the dark and light meet.

Click on any photo for a detailed look.

 Lights are lifted with a kneaded eraser, a  MUST  for drawing in graphite.  You can pinch a kneaded eraser to a fine edge and use it for hair, fur, etc. At the very last stages you can use a mechanical pencil for very fine lines, dots, and extreme detail. Just when I think I'm finished I go in again and maybe again.. darkening, and lightening. I keep bringing it closer and closer to reality.

   My pencil drawings are not sketches but rather completed and detailed works. At least that's what I strive for. It lacks the color but it is a totally different drumbeat, I like to march to that tune once in a while.... Some of these have been sold, and some have been ribbon winners.    All art in this post is copyrighted, do not reproduce any of it without the permission of the artist. Any questions please email me at:
bjoan1024@yahoo.com   Barbra Joan 

Is It Real?

I wondered why I had so many comments on the drawing of the "Eye' (below) after I posted it on Flickr. It was picked to be on 'Explore ' of which I never knew about. I'm guessing it's a page where they post what they think is 'interesting'. Some people commented on what a "wonderful photo" it is.... No , No, not a photo,... a photo of my drawing! But thank you anyway.

The Answer

This week has been one that I don't want to do too much thinking or analyzing , not good at that anyway. Life is going to come at you whether you want it or not. When that happens to me, this is my best medicine. And I have that obsession with drawing and painting eyes. So that's exactly what I've done !

'Gracie'

This is my latest pencil work. Thanks to Stephen Baird an amazing photographer you can find at http://nikonsniper.blogspot.com/. He joined my blog this week and when I saw his photos I asked his permission to do some in pencil and watercolor. He travels and gets to record all the wonders of different people, places and things. Stephen, thank you for your generosity. This was done using my Staedtler drawing pencils on smooth Bristol paper about 11"14". I use diagonal, vertical and crosshatch lines, and my trusty kneaded eraser.

UPDATE:: I picked a few of Steves photos to recreate, this one I couldn't wait to do, it was five hours work , I enjoyed every single minute, and after I posted it found out that its his granddaughter. Well hello Gracie. I hope you like your picture. !

Pencil / Graphite

Yesterday my mind was going from one thing to another, watercolor? flower?, landscape?., accomplishing nothing, I wound up posting a small watercolor that I did eons ago and don't even like that much. So what did I do? I did what always makes me feel better, thank you very much. And thats to draw. Last night picked up my Staedtler Drawing Pencils, smooth Bristol paper, trusty kneaded eraser and away I go.!